Culture is a powerful force in human society and in the business world. Yet, it is seldom recognized or used as a means to improve business practices and gain competitive advantages. Culture impacts all social aspects of human interaction, including individual communications, Tadalis SX conventions for socialization, and negotiation.

Cultural conventions are taught to us by our parents and shaped by our immediate environment. They become deeply ingrained in our personalities and define our personal world views. Stepping outside of our cultural boundaries when we travel to other countries can be a trip into the unknown. It is an experience that can create anxiety and rejection. The term “culture shock” describes it perfectly.

During a visit to India with a group of Americans many years ago, I experienced what culture shock does to people. As a highly adaptable person I didn’t think twice about blending in with the local ways. Cialis But many of my fellow travelers were truly “shocked,” and the way that they reacted to Indian culture gave me a clear glimpse into this issue.

In one particular incident one person started arguing with our Indian host about her cleaning practices. “Your cleaning supplies are not good enough; they don’t smell clean!” she shrieked. “Next time I visit I will bring a full supply of American cleaning products to do the job properly!” Imagine the look on our host’s face and how she felt. In her polite Indian way she did not react. But it was not surprising that when our stay was over she was more than happy to see us depart.

Smells and flavors are cultural qualities and we should not judge another culture based on our predilections. How can a flavor such as curry be declared to be superior or inferior to the flavor of a chipotle sauce? It is a personal preference and not a question of superiority.

This little incident is part of a much larger problem that can develop when businesses operate overseas. Such incidents can lead to employee dissatisfaction, loss of productivity, and big mistakes. Simply put, they can result in a loss of profitability.

A savvy business manager will take the time to understand the culture of his or her staff and use these differences to improve team work and minimize culture clashes.

One particular issue that frequently leads to workplace misunderstanding happens because of cultural differences in styles of communication. In some countries–including the USA and France–the style of communication tends to be direct and blunt. Indirect communication is often considered insincere and unclear. In other countries–such as Mexico and India–the style of communication is indirect and implicit, and direct communication is considered rude. This cultural difference often causes miss-communication problems that plague teams of people with different backgrounds, leading to frustration and even resentment.

There are some well-known examples of how different communication styles affect business. When most Americans arrive at a meeting, they expect to start talking about the business matter at hand immediately. Efficiency and directness are valued, but many foreigners are annoyed by this style. In many other countries, participants begin business meetings by taking time to talk about family, sports, the weather, and any number of other personal topics. In these cultures establishing a personal connection is fundamental to the matter at hand, but it often frustrates Americans.

If you work with people from other cultures, take the time to understand their culture, communicate your culture to them, and use the differences to enhance your work.

Author Bio: Richard Allenby is the partner in Languagetran, a company that offers in translation service for companies and institutions. For Houston translation , please visit the LanguageTran.com site.

Category: Business/Communication/Team Building
Keywords: translation service, houston translation